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Scouting Blogs and News | Archived blog posts from November 2010.

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HalfEagle 2010 Year in Review

Posted to HalfEagle.com Blog on December 30th, 2010

Top 10 Time Wasters

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 30th, 2010

In even the best planned meeting or activity-packed outing, there may be slack time where scouts start getting bored, or scouts come a little early and have nothing to do. Here are ten ways to pass the time that can use any number of scouts and go... [more]

The Ideal Boy run Troop

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 30th, 2010

William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt described his ideal boy run as follows: "Troop No. 3 has its share of Merit Badge Scouts and streamers testifying to its proficiency at Council Rallies and Camporees. Yet, its Scoutmaster is never much in... [more]

Aims of Scouting â€" Citizenship

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 30th, 2010

The three aims of Scouting are Character Development, Citizenship Training, and Mental and Physical Fitness. So how is citizenship incorporated into the Scouting programs offered by... [more]

Who is today's "Green Bar Bill"?

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 30th, 2010

I have been doing a lot of reading lately in old Scout literature. Old handbooks, Boy's Life Magazines from the '40's and other material in an attempt to do well.. a couple things. First learn more about Scouting, second learn more about William... [more]

Boy Scout Merit Badge: Geocaching

Posted to Stadri Emblems Scouting Blog on December 29th, 2010

One of the new merit badges announced this year is Geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor activity that pairs GPS and other navigational techniques to find a cache – anything from an amazing view to a hidden container of treasures. Often... [more]

Name That Council: Dec. 24, 2010 solution

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 29th, 2010

We hope you enjoyed reading the poem we wrote for Friday's episode of Name That Council . But we know that you'd enjoy winning the free patch even more, so let's get to the results. As you can see above, the patch belongs to the... [more]

National Outdoor Badges â€" Camping

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 29th, 2010

If you have some enthusiastic campers in your troop, they might have completed the requirements... [more]

Sign up for the Scoutmaster Newsletter

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 29th, 2010

The first edition of the new Scoutmaster Newsletter went out recently! Subscribers receive the newsletter by email once a month featuring a digest of what's been on the blog and podcast and information and resources connected to a monthly... [more]

Reflections SMMPodcast # 72

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute Podcast on December 29th, 2010

2010 was a Fantastic year of Scouting. The year of celebration led us to telling Scouting's Story, meeting new friends and reconnecting with Scouts and Scouters of days gone by. This show is a few reflections of the year of celebration from... [more]

The Year In Review (sort of)

Posted to The Scoutmaster on December 29th, 2010

So it is that time to reflect on the year that was...I wanted to touch on some highlights of the year for the Troop: - we camped 12 months of the year: among the campouts we had a Lock In, backpacking trip, rock climbing, wilderness survival,... [more]

2011 Order of the Arrow national officers elected

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 28th, 2010

The Order of the Arrow announced this week the results of the election for the next national chief, national vice chief, and four region chiefs. The newly elected officers for 2011 are: National Chief : Jonathan Hillis (above... [more]

Looking out my back door

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 28th, 2010

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season! Probably like me, many of your are taking this time to relax, reorganize and reinvigorate. I've been going through my photos from the last twelve months and there were a lot of great trips and... [more]

EDGE

Posted to True North Scouting on December 28th, 2010

Getting my scouts to advance has been a bit of a challenge...it's not that they are lazy, but they don't know what to do. Being that they are only in the 6th grade, with no "experienced" scouts to help them. I have explained to them that soon... [more]

Camping Hats with Kevin Callan

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 28th, 2010

Kevin Callan tells a great story about a canoe hat: I didn't give it much thought at first when my paddling buddy began handing over his sleeping pad, rain jacket and canoe pack to his nephew. I just considered it a nice gesture; after all, we had... [more]

Finding Direction Using a Watch

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 28th, 2010

For First Class Requirement 1, Scouts must show how to find their way at day and night without a compass. This method only requires a... [more]

Bob a Job

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 28th, 2010

First of all, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Santa brought you what you asked for! Looking through the business section of Sunday's Telegraph , I saw this article (it is also in Monday's Independent ) about the revival of Bob a Job week... [more]

Scoutmaster Podcast 49

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 27th, 2010

BSA Patrol Method Filmstrip Video Feel free to send your questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Scoutmaster Podcast 49 Links on Podcast 49 Patrol Method... [more]

The Board of Review

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 27th, 2010

The Board of Review. Terrifying to the new Tenderfoot Scout. Confusing to the new committee member. How does the Scout prepare? What are the board members supposed to cover and ask? I have been scoutmaster long enough to see a lot of people come... [more]

A short history of Leave No Trace

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 27th, 2010

Leave No Trace was incorporated as a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization in 1994, though the Leave No Trace concept is over 40 years old. Leave No Trace was formally conceived of by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service in the 1960's. However, as public land... [more]

An Hour A Week? #247

Posted to An Hour A Week? Podcast on December 27th, 2010

Today's show is an abbreviated one, but a cool topic: Blue & Gold themes. We'll be back to a regular schedule and length next week. Thanks to MISS Liberty for pitching in this week. Join the forum discussion on this post Share with Others:... [more]

Pack Meeting Ideas for January â€" Positive Attitude

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 27th, 2010

The core value for Cub Scouts for the month of January is Positive Attitude. According to the program helps, this means being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best in all... [more]

Resolution #2: Be MORE Prepared

Posted to A Scouter's Journey on December 27th, 2010

I was on the way to pick up my son when a motor vehicle accident happened right in front of me. It must have been inches or less that one of the cars missed hitting mine in the snow. As … Continue reading →... [more]

Cooperative Competition

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 26th, 2010

Regarding competing scouts , I wanted to expand on what I posted about having recognition for winners and also a group goal for everyone. The point being that if a lot of your troop activities are competitive and there is a winner with many losers,... [more]

Traveling Scouts

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on December 26th, 2010

Its a big week this week. We have several scouts heading up to Camp Strake in Conroe, TX for Winter Camp. Every year, we have a lot of boys head up that way to have some cold weather fun and earn merit badges. This year we have a few less... [more]

The Twelve Days of Camping Song

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 26th, 2010

Heres another silly song for you. This works well at Christmas (because of the tune) or at camp (because of the... [more]

Merry Christmas

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on December 25th, 2010

Hello Dear Reader. I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brought you everything you asked for. TTFN K ©ChrisMeadows2010 Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Clip this to... [more]

Merry Christmas to All

Posted to A Scouter's Journey on December 25th, 2010

To all the the Scouts, all the Scouters and to all their families… To all who visit the blog and have inspired me or mentored me along this journey… Merry Christmas to all and the happiest of New Years! Filed … Continue reading... [more]

Merry Christmas

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 24th, 2010

I just received a Christmas card from Larry in Colorado. It made my day! Larry won the scoutshop gift card last month and wrote to thank Scouting for the life experiences and adventures his son has enjoyed. I thought that was pretty cool. Charlie... [more]

In a moment's time.

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 24th, 2010

Like a lot of people I was standing in the winter cold on the 20th of December at 2:45AM staring up at the moon. For the first time in 372 years, the earth briefly shadowed the moon in a total lunar eclipse. The stars were just supporting players... [more]

STOCKING STUFFERS!!

Posted to Lone Star Scouter on December 24th, 2010

Merry Christmas everyone! Are you stuck on what to get your favorite scouter to fill his or her stocking? Here's a few ideas. The first one is a very cool item I stumbled upon this morning while picking up spices for pumpkin pie. #1 –... [more]

Oh Come all ye Faithful

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 24th, 2010

Again with the reflective mood... Found these talented women on the You Tube.. Just enjoy and MERRY CHRISTMAS !... [more]

African Jamboree 2012

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 24th, 2010

Currently I am working with Dr. Ole Jacobsen, who is spearheading the plans for the African Jamboree in 2012, which will be held in in Winneba, Ghana. This site was selected for the jamboree because of it historical significance to Lord Baden Powell... [more]

A Christmas Gift

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 24th, 2010

You know the older I get the more reflective I get.. yep.. I glow in the dark.. I find myself taking more and more time to reflect on things, events that have made a mark on my life, both good and bad, times that we share as family and friends, and... [more]

A Christmas Story...

Posted to The Scoutmaster on December 24th, 2010

When I first got married my wife and I did not have a lot of money. I was working a part-time job and my wife was a waitress in a very small town in Northern New York, about 20 minutes from Canada and 7 hours from New York City. It was our first... [more]

Win a free patch if you can Name That Council (Dec. 24, 2010)

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 24th, 2010

'Twas the day before Christmas when a new blog post appeared. A happy Scouter awoke, took a look, and then cheered. For there he saw a patch with no words and few clues. But he smiled and told his whole family the news. "I recognize... [more]

Dad's Favorite Star Cookies Recipe

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 24th, 2010

Here is another Christmas cookie. These are not very sweet. ZM and LC like to sprinkle these with red or green sugar before we bake... [more]

Happy Christmas

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 24th, 2010

I'd like to wish everyone who visits my site, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Many thanks to those of you who have taken the time and effort to comment on my posts and I hope to see you all in 2011. Alternatively, please have a Merry... [more]

James H. May Inducted Into Hall Of Leadership

Posted to Scouting News on December 24th, 2010

James H. May, a Boy Scouts of America volunteer for almost 50 years, was recognized by the Greater St. Louis Area Council as its representative in the 2010 National Hall of Leadership. A presentation was made at the council's Executive Board... [more]

Prince William Forest Park takes 1st Place with their Leave No Trace themed float!

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 23rd, 2010

Recently Jenn Kays, Park Ranger - Interpretation/ Volunteers-In-Parks Coordinator from Prince William Forest Park, took part in a holiday parade in Dumfries, Virginia . Jenn, co-workers, and volunteers decorated a bunch of electric vehicles like... [more]

National Outdoor Badges

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 23rd, 2010

I know that you all saw this in the latest issue of Scouting Magazine, but they only gave you a link to the requirements... well if your unit is anything like mine this will be a snap and a great incentive to get those younger Scouts to work on the... [more]

Around The Scouting Campfire #21 â€" Christmas Show

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 23rd, 2010

Scoutmaster Steve and Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, have put together a special Christmas show for your enjoyment. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 sing Jingle Bells and Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. Stories include the Christmas Scout, the legend of... [more]

Around The Scouting Campfire #21 â€" Christmas Show

Posted to Around The Scouting Campfire Podcast on December 23rd, 2010

Scoutmaster Steve and Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, have put together a special Christmas show for your enjoyment. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 sing Jingle Bells and Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer. Stories include the Christmas Scout, the legend of... [more]

Getting Teens to Sign Up for Venturing

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 23rd, 2010

Our Crew has been trying to recruit lately. The problem they are having is they talk to Bob and he isn't sure he wants to go unless Tim and Amy are going. They talk to Tim and Amy and they are wondering who else will be there. And on and... [more]

What's been your favourite Scouting moment of 2010?

Posted to The Scout Association on December 23rd, 2010

In a year that started and ended with a big freeze, Scouts have proved that a bit of snow doesn't deter us from enjoying camp or helping others in... [more]

At 53 years, she's been a den mother longer than anyone else

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 22nd, 2010

There's a new entry in the Guinness World Records  book this week. That's because Adele Trapp, a Scouter from the Hudson Valley Council, has been officially recognized as the longest-serving den leader in history. Trapp, 96,... [more]

Leave No Trace DVD - Short, Inspiring, and nearly FREE for you

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 22nd, 2010

Leading a presentation? Need to jump start your inspiration? Presented by the National Park Service, this 9 minutes and 30 second video is an inspiring testimony of individuals who love the land. It introduces the ideas and principles of Leave No... [more]

Name That Council: Dec. 17, 2010 solution

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 22nd, 2010

Apparently we weren't the only ones who recognized a familiar face in Friday's Name That Council challenge . A record number of our readers, 119 to be exact, responded with the correct answer as well. As many of you knew right away, the man... [more]

Large Events What is in it for me

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on December 22nd, 2010

Hello Dear Reader I recently saw a comment on a scouting website asking "What do adult get from Large Scouting Activities", I immediately started to type a response along the lines They get Networking opportunities, a chance to have fun and be a... [more]

Inventing Merit Badge

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 22nd, 2010

This looks like an interesting badge which they could work on together, but without a counselor in the troop to give them a little nudge, I could picture this dragging on for months. I'll go ahead and pass the requirements on to the PLC in case they... [more]

SMMPodcast # 71 â€" Coaching the PLC

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute Podcast on December 22nd, 2010

A Scout led Troop lives and dies with the PLC. Success can be found when the young leaders of the Patrol Leaders Council are well coached. Scoutmasters are the coaches of the PLC and in order for them to be a high performance team they need to be... [more]

Test article for testing Editorial Process. Do not publish!

Posted to UK Chief Commissioner Blog on December 22nd, 2010

Test article for testing Editorial Process. Do not... [more]

Wicked Fresh!

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 21st, 2010

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tom's of Maine . All opinions are 100% mine. Hey, here's a simple contest - Leave a comment about this blog post describing your most memorable Wicked Fresh moment and you might win a gift card... [more]

Twelve Days Of A Philmont Christmas

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 21st, 2010

We are in the final week of the Christmas season. This time of year always reminds me of one evening in August of 1992 when I was with my troop on a trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. We decided to spend an evening around the campfire celebrating... [more]

Bowling Belt Loop for Cub Scouts

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 21st, 2010

Bowling is a great winter activity for those days off. So when you head to the bowling alley with your family or den, don't forget to complete the requirements for the Bowling belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports... [more]

Beagle Scout Fans

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 21st, 2010

Every so often I get a note from someone asking me about the Peanuts comic strip in which Snoopy appears as a Beagle Scout or as the scoutmaster of a troop of Woodstock's friends. I never had a collection of all the comic strips, but today I found... [more]

Chief Scout Visit in 1963

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 21st, 2010

As many of you will know, one of the things I'm interested in is the history of my Group. So the other week this letter in the local newspaper caught my eye. It was about the filming of the then Chief Scout's (Sir Charles Maclean) visit to... [more]

Scouts in snowy Surrey take to the roads in 4x4s

Posted to The Scout Association on December 21st, 2010

A Scout Active Support Unit in the South East has been providing emergency support for local... [more]

More of the pipeline and some Christmas messages

Posted to UK Chief Commissioner Blog on December 21st, 2010

Continuing my wander through our current work plans and a reminder of some Christmas messages you should have received. Don't forget to ask questions, or seek further clarification... [more]

Competing Scouts

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 20th, 2010

You lean across the finish line winning the race, while the other guy loses. You get first chair trumpet in band and the other guy gets second chair. You make the varsity wrestling team, but the other guy in your weight doesn't. You sell the most... [more]

Scoutmaster Podcast 48

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 20th, 2010

Taking direction from Youth Leadership, Scouts with Challenges Feel free to send your questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Scoutmaster Podcast 48 Links on... [more]

Burning Trash

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 20th, 2010

Thanks to all of you who posted comments on our recent Facebook question: Is it ever OK to burn trash in your campfire? Why or why not? How many of us have seen a trashed fire ring? Trash begets trash. It's just a fact. Ideally, all trash should be... [more]

Libyan Adventure â€" Part Three

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on December 20th, 2010

Hello Dear Reader Well what to tell you about the Desert? Firstly it is not a Desert as you may think. It is not soft sand rolling dunes, the sand here is quite hard more like a beach within the tide mark. Some of the guys on site did joke that we... [more]

My Favorite Knot Book

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 20th, 2010

This book was recommended a few years ago when I went to Cub Scout BALOO training. I am not a "knot person". I can watch someone do a knot and repeat it, but an hour later it is... [more]

The Lock In...

Posted to The Scoutmaster on December 19th, 2010

Every December the Troop plans a Lock In as the monthly 'campout'. It has been an annual tradition for YEARS and all the Scouts (and visitors) love it. Last night (this morning) was the Lock In. We had 157 Scouts, Scouters, Webelos,... [more]

Winter offers opportunities for recipe experimentation

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 19th, 2010

Face it, there aren't too many scouting units that go winter camping like they would in Spring, Summer or Fall. One winter camp seems to be the norm for most units but that should deter anyone from thinking about camping and this is a perfect time... [more]

Kwanzaa Candle Ceremony for Cub Scouts

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 19th, 2010

This ceremony relates the seven principles of Kwanzaa to the values of Cub Scouting. It goes along well with the December theme of respect... [more]

Digital Christmas

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 18th, 2010

Someone had some time on their hands... love this video though... Its a week before Christmas... Have a Great Scouting Day!... [more]

Scouts talk to Santa on Scouting Radio

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 18th, 2010

Scouts from all over the world called into Scout Radio, sent text messages and emails to Santa Claus who sent 40 minutes with Justin Dawson, station manager of Scouting Radio and yours truly. Scouts were at the ready to find out the answers to age... [more]

MSPP #100: Christmas Scouts

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 18th, 2010

Buttons, the radical Boy Scout, introduces the Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 as they sing Christmas songs during a couple of December courts of honor (from 2003 and 2007). Join the Scouts as they sing a couple of Christmas favorites: Jingle Bells... [more]

Schweinfurt Boy Scouts enjoy time with 12th Chem. Co. Soldiers

Posted to Scouting News on December 18th, 2010

The Boy Scouts of Schweinfurt Troop 55 and two Cub Scouts from Pack 630 spent the day with the 12th Chemical Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, on Conn Kaserne here recently learning how to be a chemical soldier. All the Boy... [more]

Top 10 Fire Starting Methods

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 18th, 2010

Oh no! We're out of matches! Now what do we do? It's a good idea to have a couple backup fire starting methods available and a better idea to know how to use them. They aren't all easy, but here's ten ways you could get a fire going - with a little... [more]

Webelos Den Meeting Plan â€" Webelos Badge

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 18th, 2010

Instead of giving you a typical den meeting plan, I am going to list the badge requirements below and explain what we are doing for each... [more]

I Blame the Boy Scouts

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 18th, 2010

Picked this up from National Geographic Traveler I hope they don't mind me reposting it... I give them all the credit.. good story, one worth sharing with your Scouts. By Boyd Matson I'm not what you'd call a plant guy. Don't get me wrong. I like... [more]

RippleLife.org

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 17th, 2010

Early in 2010, Curtis Baffic contacted Leave No Trace with a benefit fundraising idea that was realized as RippleLife.org . Now, RippleLIfe.org takes on a variety of environmental issues with the goal of cleaning up the outdoors. The latest is a... [more]

SPOT Deal

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 17th, 2010

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SPOT . All opinions are 100% mine. I've told you a few times about the SPOT Satellite GPS messenger that our troop uses on our backpacking adventures. It's a great little gadget that gives you... [more]

Win a free patch if you can Name That Council (Dec. 17, 2010)

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 17th, 2010

Oh, man, who is that guy? I swear I've seen him before! Figure out the name of that hat-wearing fella and you're on your way to naming that council. Once you've got it, simply send us your guess. Remember, the only way you can win is by... [more]

True North Show 32

Posted to True North Scouting on December 17th, 2010

Another segment from my call-in show from December 7th…thanks to all those that came on that night…it was a blast This show is sponsored by Badge Magic Join the forum discussion on this post Share with Others:... [more]

Pot and Towel Rack Camp Gadget

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 17th, 2010

These instructions are for a pot and towel drying rack. There is a small picture of a similar gadget in the Boy Scout... [more]

2011 Membership T-shirts

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 17th, 2010

That's right 2011 Membership T-shirts are in stock and rolling out the door as we speak. How do you get your hands on one? Well its easy! Just click here and sign up to become a member of Leave No Trace. If you donate $35 or more you to can show... [more]

A Teddy Bear Service Project

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 17th, 2010

Okay. I usually do not cover sporting events in this blog but I just watched a couple of videos that really show how a community can come together and do a super sized service project. As we all know, Boy Scouts love their service projects, but it... [more]

There's a Merit Badge App For That!

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 17th, 2010

I t looks like Boy Scouts with iPhones and iPod Touch's will soon be able to keep track of their merit badges on their devices. According to scoutingnews.org: Beginning in early 2011, Boy Scouts will be able to manage their merit badges with an... [more]

California Scout camp Leaves No Trace with new sustainable eco-cabins

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 16th, 2010

It was hard for our ancestors to Leave No Trace when building a cabin. After all, the key ingredient in constructing a log cabin was, well, logs. And that meant chopping down a few dozen trees. But it's the 21st century now, and modern... [more]

Campsite of the Year Survey

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 16th, 2010

On Tuesday, we asked our readers to vote for the most inviting campsite out of four choices, Long Key State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Lake Wenatchee State Park, and Monument Valley. We received 42 votes and the campsite of the year was Lake... [more]

Setting Advancement Goals with Boy Scouts

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 16th, 2010

My plan is to get all of the Scouts of the same rank together at one time and give them some encouragement. I'll give each of them an advancement goals sheet to fill... [more]

A view of 2010 by Google

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on December 16th, 2010

Hello Dear Reader Below is a video I came across on Chris Brogan's Blog and I thought I would share it with you. TTFN K ©ChrisMeadows2010 Subscribe to the comments for this post? Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Clip this to Evernote Share this... [more]

What Would You Do? - Asperger's Syndrome

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 16th, 2010

From Scouting Magazine's 'What Would You Do?' One of our Boy Scouts has Asperger's syndrome. He does well learning Scouting concepts by reading, but he has struggled with camp-outs and activities that are not highly structured. What can... [more]

Merit Badges Will Be Going Mobile With New iPhone App

Posted to Scouting News on December 16th, 2010

Beginning in early 2011, Boy Scouts will be able to manage their merit badges with an interactive application for the Apple iPhone. The application which will be available for $1.99 through the iTunes Store , will let Scouts review merit badge... [more]

Boy Scout Training in the Sunshine State and Beyond

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 15th, 2010

"Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I will remember. Let me do, and I will understand." -Confucius Throughout the 2010 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer season, we worked closely with the Boy Scouts of America to share the fundamentals... [more]

ClassB Scouting Photo Contest

Posted to Official ClassB Blog on December 15th, 2010

Do we have any photography fans in the house? We sure hope so, because ClassB is holding a Scouting photo contest to find the best Scouting picture from 2010. If you have a photo that is related to Scouting, enter it into the competition for your... [more]

Name That Council: Dec. 10, 2010 solution

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 15th, 2010

Judging by the 98 correct responses we got to Friday's Name That Council , this patch contained, perhaps, too many clues. But we like getting plenty of guesses, even if it reduces everyone's odds of winning the prize. This week's... [more]

Ask Andy - Scoutmaster Conferences

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 15th, 2010

Here's an excerpt from Ask Andy's December 10th column . Hi Andy: My question has to do with BSA national policies and why so many troops seem to stray... For example, my son recently "failed" his Scoutmaster conference for First... [more]

Basketball Belt Loop for Cub Scouts

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 15th, 2010

Just because it has turned bitter cold outside this week doesn't mean that Cub Scouts can't stay active. Encourage your Cub Scouts to earn their basketball beltloop this month. If they are on a team, they have almost earned it... [more]

SMM Show #70 â€" What would You do?

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute Podcast on December 15th, 2010

Welcome back… in this show Scoutmaster Jerry answers the question "What would You do?" from the Scouting Mag. column. I have often sent in answers and questions and never have had mine picked.. so here you go.. here is my chance to answer a... [more]

Find Beagle Scout Snoopy

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 15th, 2010

Here is a little puzzle for you and your Cub Scout. This Christmas tree contains the four latest Hallmark Beagle Scout Snoopy ornaments. Enlarge the picture by clicking on it, and then try to find them. One features Snoopy and his troop canoeing... [more]

BSA Appoints Ron Tozzie as New Chief Information Officer

Posted to Scouting News on December 15th, 2010

The Boy Scouts of America announced today that as part of its commitment to continuing improvement of its technology it has appointed Ron Tozzie as Chief Information Officer for the organization. He will be responsible for developing a new... [more]

Scouts undercover are still Scouts

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 14th, 2010

Today, I went to my daughter's Christmas concert at her elementary school. Performing on stage were the students from K - 5th grade and several of those students were both cub scouts and girl scouts from the area. No scout/student was wearing the... [more]

Student help hikers "Know Before They Go"

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 14th, 2010

Students from Glen Cove Elementary in Roanoke, VA adopted their local Appalachian Trail Kiosk and gave it some much needed attention. Check out the photos: Before After Thanks to these students local hikers can learn how to take care of our shared... [more]

Campsite of the Year Survey

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 14th, 2010

It's survey time! This year, we've traveled through 36 states and camped almost 100 nights. We've stayed at many different campsites and we'd like you to pick your favorite. Take a close look at the following four pictures, follow the link at the... [more]

Chuck Boxes and Camp Kitchens

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 14th, 2010

Here's another survey of chuck boxes from the web. There's lots of interesting ideas and designs out there. Troop 416's chuckbox plans available here Image gallery of this chuckbox available here Trailer mounted chuck box see more images here... [more]

3 0 Heros

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 14th, 2010

At the troop meeting last night, I got to hand out 3 Zero Hero patches to the adults that slept out last weekend in the snow storm and -8 degree temps. The hope is that all the scouts in attendance will want to get one next month on their Okpik... [more]

Service Project Ideas for Boy Scouts

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 14th, 2010

Boy Scouts are required to participate service projects for Second Class, Star, and Life. Our troop encourages all Scouts to participate in service projects whether they need the hours or... [more]

This weeks message..

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 14th, 2010

As we enter this busy time of the year, don't let the hustle and bustle of the season lead you away from the Oath and Law. Now is the time to be Cheerful, Reverent, and Helpful. Every day renew the promise to do your duty to God and your Country and... [more]

Leave No Trace Polo Shirts have Arrived!!

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 13th, 2010

Now you can look your best, and promote your favorite cause at the same time. Great for the casual days in the office, or presenting Leave No Trace when a t-shirt isn't appropriate. These super comfortable Polo shirts are made by Econscious out of... [more]

Twas The Scout's Christmas Party

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 13th, 2010

Here is a little Christmas Poem I wrote a few years ago. Twas the day of the party for the Scouts of the troop. Time for films, pop, and goodies, and pizza (but not soup.) One by one they arrived at the scoutmaster's door. They took off both their... [more]

Scoutmaster Podcast 47

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 13th, 2010

Scoutmastership, Email Question, The Scouting Movement Scoutmaster Podcast 47 Feel free to send your questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Links on Podcast 47... [more]

Looking back at 2010-the Scouting Centennial

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 13th, 2010

Time flies when you are having fun and I cannot believe that the centennial year is just about to end in in less than 2 months time. This past year was an interesting year for me, actually beginning in September 2009, with the Great Lakes Jamboree... [more]

November-December 2010 Where Am I? winner announced

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 13th, 2010

In our November-December 2010 edition of Where Am I? , the gorgeous picture at left was a nice treat for all of our readers. But only one reader got an additional treat: a $100 gift card to the BSA's supply division. We received nearly 1,000... [more]

Incident Reporting Tools

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on December 13th, 2010

... [more]

Incident Reporting Tools

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on December 13th, 2010

... [more]

Philmont documentary offers complete look at Scouting's premier hiking destination

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 13th, 2010

 It's hard to put into words the experience that awaits anyone who visits Philmont Scout Ranch. You pretty much have to check it out for yourself. But a new documentary about Philmont succeeds at what once seemed impossible:... [more]

The Flag Remembers Christmas

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 13th, 2010

You need to highlight the flag during this ceremony. Put a spotlight on it or have two scouts hold it up, or something like... [more]

Winter Camp

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 13th, 2010

WOW! What a great weekend campout! Minnesota had the biggest snowstorm in a long time this weekend, but it worked out just fine for our campout. We left Friday evening and got to Camp Stearns a couple hours before the snow started. It fell all... [more]

New additions to the National Scout Activity Centre family

Posted to The Scout Association on December 13th, 2010

Great Tower, situated in the Lake District, and Woodhouse Park, Bristol, are to join The Scout Association's National Scout Activity Centres from 1 April 2011 offering new and exciting Scouting... [more]

Slowly but surely

Posted to UK Chief Commissioner Blog on December 13th, 2010

A busy week of catch up meetings with friends and colleagues, a trip to Zurich on business, Cardiff and London for Scouting and the chance to catch up on some... [more]

Local Scout property making National News

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 12th, 2010

Got this from the Scouting News Blog Partnership Will Protect Boy Scouts Land in Happy Valley Posted on 11 December 2010 by Press Release A beloved Boy Scouts property overlooking Happy Valley will be protected as a public natural area with new... [more]

Radio

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 12th, 2010

Today I came across a new online radio station I'd not heard of before called Red Shift Radio . It's based just up the road from me in Crewe and they have a show on Saturday lunchtime called 'Scout and About'. To quote their Twitter account –... [more]

I'm having a very Scouting Christmas

Posted to be.PREPARED on December 12th, 2010

Christmas is always a busy time, in Scouting as much as everywhere else. This year, my Scouting Christmas is very nearly over. My group's annual Christmas Bazaar was very successful, making over £400 – our best ever! I also found out that... [more]

I'm having a very Scouting Christmas

Posted to be.PREPARED on December 12th, 2010

Christmas is always a busy time, in Scouting as much as everywhere else. This year, my Scouting Christmas is very nearly over. My group's annual Christmas Bazaar was very successful, making over £400 – our best ever! I also found out that... [more]

2010 Iron Chef

Posted to From the Committee Chair on December 12th, 2010

The 2010 Iron Chef campout at Newport News Park was a great success, in spite of the rain on Saturday night. Lots of advancement requirements were completed by the Scouts and signed off in their books. The highlight of the weekend, of course, was... [more]

Light the Candle Game for Cub Scouts

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 12th, 2010

This is a simple game which works in well with a holiday themed meeting. It only requires a few materials and not much preparation, which makes it ideal in my mind. And it works... [more]

Resolution #1

Posted to A Scouter's Journey on December 12th, 2010

"We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it." – Baden Powell It's been about 10 months now since my son and I transitioned to Boy Scouts. While there's still … Continue reading →... [more]

Citizenship

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 12th, 2010

Without getting to wrapped up in politics, flag waving, and humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic while draped in a flag, I want to talk a bit about citizenship in Scouting. Today, I sat in the back of our meeting place while 8 of our Scouts took... [more]

Resolution #1

Posted to A Scouter's Journey on December 12th, 2010

"We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it." – Baden Powell It's been about 10 months now since my son and I transitioned to Boy Scouts. While there's still … Continue reading →... [more]

Arson

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 11th, 2010

It was very sad to read today that our close neighbours, 1st Kidsgrove Scout Group , had suffered an arson attack. It seems someone had set fire to one of their outbuildings which was used to store archery and air rifle shooting equipment amongst... [more]

Partnership Will Protect Boy Scouts Land in Happy Valley

Posted to Scouting News on December 11th, 2010

A beloved Boy Scouts property overlooking Happy Valley will be protected as a public natural area with new trails, picnic tables and restrooms, thanks to a partnership including Metro, the City of Happy Valley and the North Clackamas Parks and... [more]

Voyageur District shows marked improvements in adult leadership training

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 11th, 2010

Bay-Lakes Council, Voyageur District is currently undergoing a pilot program to ensure that Cub masters are all 100% trained by December 31, 2010. A major challenge by any standard and something that is not easily accomplished when the starting... [more]

Tiger Den Meeting Plan â€" Making Music

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 11th, 2010

This den meeting plan completes Tiger Elective 6 - Song Time and Tiger Elective 7 - Play Along. It also completes the requirements for the Music belt... [more]

Going to Gilwell?

Posted to A Scouter's Journey on December 11th, 2010

I'm not sure when it was that I first heard about Wood Badge. I know it was early in my career as a Scouter and from that moment it was something I wanted to do. Wood Badge is Scouting's advanced … Continue reading →... [more]

True North Show 31

Posted to True North Scouting on December 11th, 2010

It's a Skype call in for my 2nd Podiversary. Come take a listen to some great scouters talk about their units. Part 1 of many…could this be the start of something? That could be…stay tuned, Scout Nation This show is sponsored by The Boy... [more]

Scouting Week In Review â€" December 10th, 2010

Posted to Official ClassB Blog on December 10th, 2010

Hello Scouts! For those of you who don't know yet, we started a brand new Facebook page just for Scouts this week. Hurry and "friend" us because we are randomly giving away all sorts of Scouting goodies to our fans. You could be a winner, and all... [more]

Win a free patch if you can Name That Council (Dec. 10, 2010)

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 10th, 2010

Name That Council is too difficult, you say? Well, here's a patch where the council's service area is literally outlined on a map. So figure out which state is outlined in gold and head off to your favorite search engine to learn which... [more]

Product Review â€" Columbia Omni Heat Jacket

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 10th, 2010

A product review of the Columbia Omni Heat Mighty Light Jacket. This jacket is lightweight but warm. I liked the fit a... [more]

Posted to Boy Scouts of America "What's Hot" on December 10th, 2010

... [more]

Beaver Scouts celebrate Christmas at special gurdwara service

Posted to The Scout Association on December 10th, 2010

Beavers in Birmingham have been honoured with an invitation to celebrate Christmas in a one-of-a-kind service at a Sikh... [more]

Calm Before the Storm

Posted to A Scouter's Journey on December 9th, 2010

Recently things have been pretty quiet with the Troop. We come off Thanksgiving and head into the one month we don't camp and instead hold the annual Christmas tree sale fundraiser. This weekend it will be going full steam. Tonight … Continue... [more]

Pocket Stoves

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 9th, 2010

This past summer, at BSA summer camp, four of our scouts did the Wilderness Survival merit badge. As part of that badge, they each made a cool alcohol pocket stove - directed by the camp staff. Ken at PK Stoves asked me to try out his Pocket Stove... [more]

Gift Guide for Scoutmasters - Classic Books

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 9th, 2010

Here's more holiday shopping ideas for your favorite Scout leader. These classic books are all old friends to me. I have read and re-read them over the years. That these volumes remain in print is a testimony to their relevance. Here's my... [more]

Leave No Trace Video by Michael Ramsey

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 9th, 2010

Leave No Trace from Michael Ramsey on Vimeo ... [more]

Around The Scouting Campfire #20

Posted to Around The Scouting Campfire Podcast on December 9th, 2010

Buttons is a little upset that the troop's camping trip may be cancelled because there is not a second adult to chaperone so Steve has to explain the Boy Scouts of America's Youth Protection policy. The show includes the Jedi Patrol singing their... [more]

Around The Scouting Campfire #20

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 9th, 2010

Buttons is a little upset that the troop's camping trip may be cancelled because there is not a second adult to chaperone, so Steve has to explain one point of the Boy Scouts of America's Youth Protection policy. The show includes the Jedi Patrol... [more]

Weather Hazards Online Course

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 9th, 2010

Be prepared for unexpected changes in the... [more]

Movement or Organization

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 8th, 2010

It is a movement, because it moves forward. As soon as it stops moving, it becomes an Organisation, and is no longer Scouting. -Baden Powell There is sometimes troubled relationship between the creative, visionary force behind great ideas... [more]

Name That Council: Dec. 3, 2010 solution

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 8th, 2010

It's cold outside, folks. That's even more reason to be jealous of the men and women who are members of the Gulf Ridge Council , headquartered in Tampa, Fla. Tampa's highs will be in the mid-70s this weekend, meaning... [more]

Check Out ClassB's New Facebook Page - Giveaways Galore!

Posted to Trailstop on December 8th, 2010

Hey Scouters! Once again, our suppliers are going above and beyond for the Scouting community! Yesterday, our friends over at ClassB launched a new Facebook page just for Scouts . But the coolest thing about it is that they are going to be giving... [more]

Which uniform should a Council Executive Board Member wear?

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 8th, 2010

In our little corner of the Boy Scouts of America's national headquarters, the staff of Scouting magazine is surrounded by experts who know just about everything there is to know about the program we love. That's why we started the... [more]

Cub Scout World Conservation Award

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 8th, 2010

This award is available to Wolves, Bears, and Webelos. The purpose of the award is to help Cub Scouts think about how we are all interdependent on our environment. The requirements are differnent depending which year the Cub Scout is... [more]

SMMPodcast # 69 â€" Sleeping Well

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute Podcast on December 8th, 2010

Welcome Back to the SMMPodcast, in this episode I talk about Sleeping well. We spend a great deal of time while camping sleeping and eating. Here are some tips to help you sleep well during your camping adventures. Leave Feedback for the show... [more]

Top 10 Non-Webelos Recruiting Tips

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 8th, 2010

In response to my previous post about recruiting tips , someone asked about specifically recruiting NON-Webelos. Well, here you go. I'd love to hear from anyone that tries them. There are a lot of 5th and 6th grade boys in your community that were... [more]

What's in the pipeline then?

Posted to UK Chief Commissioner Blog on December 8th, 2010

Having boasted last week that nothing keeps me awake at night, I paid the price this week! With snow and ice closing the airport in Guernsey (yes, we even had snow in Guernsey – well, 20 mm at least, which of course caused chaos), I had to resort to... [more]

Ten gifts that Scouters are asking for this holiday season

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 7th, 2010

 Are you buying a gift for a special Scouter in your life this holiday season? Or has a loved one or friend asked you for your wish list? We're here to help. Or, more accurately, you're here to help one another. We asked for holiday... [more]

Gift Ideas for Scout Leaders

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 7th, 2010

Here's my lists of books and gear for gift giving this holiday season... [more]

Staying Safe; Training is not Enough!

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 7th, 2010

Leading scouts in the out doors is an exciting challenge and a serious responsibility. It is difficult yet vitally important to read about incidents like the one below. If the account below is accurate the adults involved compromised the Sweet 16... [more]

Would This Work in Scouting

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on December 7th, 2010

Hello Dear Reader I came across this wonderful cartoon about getting young people to tuck their shirts in and I thought I would share it. NOTE: I am not getting into the debate over whether shirts should be tucked in or should not be, that is your... [more]

Crew Activities â€" Skiing

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 7th, 2010

At our Crew meeting this past Sunday, the focus was on skiing. Our council is having a ski night for Venturers at a local ski resort in January. The original plan had been to have a guest speaker come in and give some skiing tips. He couldn't make... [more]

Hi-Tech Driving

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on December 7th, 2010

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ . All opinions are 100% mine. A few years ago, we had an adult driver arrive at our campsite almost an hour after everyone else. He had an onboard navigation system which his family had... [more]

The Woodcraft Folk

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 7th, 2010

I read an article this morning about the Woodcraft Folk taking young people aged 11 / 13 (depending where you read) to the demonstrations about the proposed rises in university tuition fees. The article I read was in the Daily Telegraph (but I... [more]

The North Face Endurance Challenge-San Francisco, CA

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 6th, 2010

Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnzes prepares kids for the half mile Karno Kids Run. The fifth and final stop of The North Face Endurance Challenge took place at the beautiful Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area just north of San... [more]

Winter sports safety tips: Sled, ski, and snowboard without incident

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 6th, 2010

We're fickle about snow. We want less of it in our driveways and more of it at our favorite ski resorts. But when it comes to snow-related activities, the BSA Health and Safety team's stance doesn't waver: enjoy it, but do so... [more]

Scoutmaster Podcast 46

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 6th, 2010

The Scouting Process, The Scout shirt Scoutmaster Podcast 46 Feel free to send your questions and comments (you can rate the podcast on iTunes). Use the email link above left or the comments feature of the blog. Subscribe on iTunes Music in Podcast... [more]

Most Impact - Kitchen or Sleeping Area?

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 6th, 2010

Thanks to all of you who posted comments on our recent Facebook question: Which area of your camp receives the most use –sleeping area or kitchen? Generally speaking, the camp kitchen receives more impact than sleeping areas. While there are... [more]

Libyan Adventrue â€" Part Two

Posted to Jabbering All Day Long on December 6th, 2010

Hello Dear Reader So having braved crazy driving and enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere of the souq, it was time to head to the desert to actually do some work. However I did have enough time before heading to the airport for my flight to walk down to... [more]

Webelos Badge Scramble Puzzle

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 6th, 2010

I am going to go over some of the requirements for the Webelos badge with my den at our next meeting. We'll use this word scramble puzzle as a gathering activity. It is based on the requirements for the Webelos... [more]

The Lucky ones

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 5th, 2010

Saturday morning started out like many other Saturdays in our sleepy little town.. wake up, shave, shower, put on Scout uniform... But this last Saturday was special, it was our annual Scouting for Food Saturday, a day that the Scouts not only... [more]

Cartoon Characters that Should have Been Boy Scouts

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 5th, 2010

Face it, I love cartoons. Mainly the older ones and my favorite cartoons came from the Warner Brother Studios, Disney Studios, and from Walter Lantz Productions. I believe that Wile E. Coyote would have been more successful in his quest to capture... [more]

Holiday Napkin Rings

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 5th, 2010

Cub Scouts can make this craft to brighten up a holiday table. They can decorate the napkin rings any way they... [more]

5 Star University

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 5th, 2010

This year's 5 Star University of Scouting will be on Saturday, January, 29, at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wisconsin. I am hoping to complete the requirements for my Doctorate's degree as part of my quest to improve the quality of... [more]

Newspaper Picks Up Story

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 4th, 2010

I recently wrote a blog post about the historical discovery that a Boy Scout program was started in Melrose way back in 1911. I also submitted the post to the Melrose Beacon, our local weekly newspaper. This week's issue arrived today and the... [more]

Wolf Den Meeting Plan for Achievement 11 â€" Duty to God

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 4th, 2010

Don't be afraid to talk about faith with your Cub Scouts. Even if your group represents very diverse faiths, they should be able to learn to talk about faith respectfully with each... [more]

Follow up on "The Leadership Challenge"

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 4th, 2010

There is a Scouter out there named Larry, he is insightful and knows his stuff. I love to hear from him and see what his point of view is on various topics. Larry frequents Clarke Green's Blog and Podcast also, so I get to hear a lot of what Larry... [more]

True North Show 30

Posted to True North Scouting on December 4th, 2010

W2S ideas, Troop SOPs and LotW…for those who are acronymatically-challenged, Webelos to Scout Transition ideas, Troop Standard Operating Procedures and my Links of the Week. This show is sponsored by ClassB.com Links of the Week Scoutmaster... [more]

Win a free patch if you can Name That Council (Dec. 3, 2010)

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on December 3rd, 2010

The vast expanse of blue thread on this patch in not unlike the vast expanse of blue ocean that Scouts and Scouters in this council get to enjoy every day. Name That Council, and you'll be entered to win the patch shown. We'll pick... [more]

Scouting Week In Review â€" December 3rd, 2010

Posted to Official ClassB Blog on December 3rd, 2010

Hello Scouts! It's time to get back to our weekly BSA news posts. Every week we choose a few interesting news stories from around the country and feature them below for all of our blog readers to see. A lot of times some great news stories will... [more]

...a long winter's nap.

Posted to The Scoutmaster on December 3rd, 2010

So the Holidays are upon us. It is that time of year where Scouting goes FULL BORE and then takes a break. Or that is how it seems to me? There's wreath/tree sales, Popcorn wrap up, Holiday Parties, last minute services like Food Collection... [more]

Gift Guide for Scoutmasters - Gear

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 3rd, 2010

Here's some holiday shopping ideas for your favorite Scout leader: Â Self Inflating Air Mattress Sleeping atop a self inflating air mattress on the ground is surprisingly comfortable. Ingeniously constructed of open-celled foam... [more]

Gift Guide for Scoutmasters - Books

Posted to Scoutmaster Clarke Green on December 3rd, 2010

Here's some holiday shopping ideas for your favorite Scout leader: Working The Patrol Method Authors Rob Faris,Ted Knight and Harry Wimbrough have written an indepensible book for understanding, implimenting and maintaining Scouting's... [more]

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 3rd, 2010

ZM really enjoy making holiday treats. To him, if it has a special shape, that makes baking extra fun. So these are a good Christmas treat to make with Cub Scouts. They don't have a strong mint flavor, but are more like a sugar... [more]

Second Online Auction

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 3rd, 2010

We are excited to announce the launch of our 2nd Annual Online Auction! By participating you are making a direct difference in the success of Leave No Trace kids programs and initiatives. All proceeds from the event will go directly toward... [more]

Winter Sports Safety

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on December 3rd, 2010

... [more]

Winter Sports Safety

Posted to BSA Health and Safety Alerts on December 3rd, 2010

... [more]

Online Auction Open Now!

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 2nd, 2010

It's Holiday Auction Time! Bid on great gifts for the holidays while supporting Leave No Trace. Bid Now!... [more]

Cub Scout Songbook - CD

Posted to Commissioner Keith Comments on December 2nd, 2010

I purchased the "Cub Scout Songbook" CD at this past year's Cub Scout College, which was on clearance and I finally had the chance to listen to the tracks and the songs are tunes that we all sang as children. Track one is entitled, "Do, do, do Your... [more]

MSPP #99: Leaders Of Scouting, Spoden

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 2nd, 2010

In 1989, five women who were involved with the Scouting program in Melrose, met at the local community access television studio to do a talk show about Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting in Melrose. The show was titled The Women Of Scouting . It was... [more]

Westfield State University

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on December 2nd, 2010

Earlier this week, we visited Professor Kevin Tatsugawa at Westfield State University in western Massachusetts. We met with four different classes, Wilderness Leadership Techniques, two sections of Wilderness Experiences, and Outdoor Experiences... [more]

Community

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on December 2nd, 2010

A lot is said today about the need for people to do stuff for their local communities. The idea being that by doing things in the community, people are giving back. Of course, Scouts (and other youth organisations to be fair) have been doing this... [more]

Log Sheet for Personal Fitness Merit Badge

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 2nd, 2010

Part of the requirements for this badge include doing some fitness tests periodically and recording a fitness plan over a period of 12 weeks. There are some worksheets available for this on the web, but the ones we looked at didn't really fit in... [more]

Former McDaniel College President Honored as Good Scout

Posted to Scouting News on December 2nd, 2010

Joan Develin Coley, president emerita of McDaniel College, was honored by the Carroll District Boys Scouts of America at the annual "Good Scout" Award Breakfast. held Dec. 1 at McDaniel College's Decker Center Forum. McDaniel Board Chairman and... [more]

Boy Scout Beginnings

Posted to A Scoutmaster's Blog on December 2nd, 2010

August 1, 1907 – Lord Robert Baden-Powell, author of the book Scouting For Boys, took a group of boys to Brownsea Island for a camping event. Thus, the Scouting program was born. February 8, 1910 – William Boyce incorporated the BSA,... [more]

Kim's Game...

Posted to The Scoutmaster on December 1st, 2010

Last night at the meeting we played a Troop Game, Kim's Game. For those not in the know...it is a memory game. 30 items are placed on a table and covered. Each team (we used Patrols) are allowed 30 seconds to see the table and then write... [more]

SMMPodcast #68 â€" Interview with Alvin Townley

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute Podcast on December 1st, 2010

Welcome back to the SMMPodcast! In this show I have a chat with the author of Legacy of Honor and Spirit of Adventure, Alvin Townley. His books have been an inspiration with the Scouting community and his message is timeless. Enjoy this... [more]

Music Merit Badge

Posted to Scouter Mom on December 1st, 2010

With all of the holiday concerts this time of year, some of your Scouts might want to work on the Music merit... [more]

New Boy Scout Troop in Michigan

Posted to True North Scouting on December 1st, 2010

548 Where Boys do the Leading: A new beginning : "Well, this is the first post for this blog, actually my first post for any blog. I have no idea what I'm doing so it will not only document ..." Just an excerpt from a new blog from a listener and... [more]

Finding the Leadership Challenges

Posted to The Scoutmaster Minute on December 1st, 2010

Baden Powell suggested that if you want the Scouts to be responsible you should give them responsibility. If you want the Scouts to lead than they must be given the opportunity to lead. What I have found is that most teen aged young men will first... [more]

Positive Attitude

Posted to BSA CubCast Podcast on December 1st, 2010

There's more to having a positive attitude than simply "Don't worry; be happy." To help us learn ways to teach our Cub Scouts how to keep a positive outlook even when we don't win is Dennis Kampa, National Camping School task force chair and council... [more]

Religious Emblems

Posted to BSA CubCast Podcast on December 1st, 2010

Joining us for this reverent topic is Mark Hazelwood, who teaches a course on religious emblems at Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, New Mexico, and has been the CEO of P.R.A.Y. for 26 years. He currently serves on the Program Impact... [more]

Scouts spring into action to help local services during the big freeze.

Posted to The Scout Association on December 1st, 2010

On Tuesday night a team of Scout volunteers sprung into action recently to help local services in the big... [more]

Top 10 Useful Merit Badges

Posted to Scoutmaster Musings on November 30th, 2010

The majority of the over 125 active merit badges introduce scouts to skills, careers, and hobbies which have little to do with Scouting. The goal of the merit badge program is to broaden a scout's experience, not just to improve his scouting... [more]

Snow

Posted to Nick's Ramblings UK on November 30th, 2010

With the UK (and various parts of Europe as well, by all accounts) getting snow unseasonably early, the country is slowly grinding to a halt! However, should this mean that Scouting activities should stop as well? No! At the beginning of the year,... [more]

Review of The Unofficial Official Handbook for Boys

Posted to Trailstop on November 30th, 2010

This was one of the funnest book reviews I think I've ever done! I always love off-the-wall books that present you with facts and figures you thought you'd never know. And when those facts are zany and trivial, it makes it that much better. That's... [more]

Wildlife Bridge: What do you think?

Posted to Leave No Trace Blog on November 30th, 2010

I ran across this article about a proposed wildlife bridge crossing over I-70 west of Vail. The issue, near to hearts in Colorado, is relevant a lot of places and introduces a great discussion on the intersection of humans, wildlife and technology... [more]

Happy 100th birthday, Kenya Scouts Association!

Posted to Aaron on Scouting Magazine on November 30th, 2010

The Boy Scouts of America isn't the only Scouting organization celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. The Kenya Scouts Association, one of 160 recognized national Scout organizations in the world, has also reached triple digits in 2010... [more]

The Leader's Campfire #81-Good Turns

Posted to The Leader's Campfire Podcast on November 30th, 2010

We talk about BSA's history of national Good Turns over the last 100 years. Links: History of the BSA Highlights- http://bit.ly/fyDACF Service Through the Years – Yankee Clipper Council- http://bit.ly/e1egpu Tonight's show sponsored by Badge... [more]

Second Class Requirement 6: Identify Evidence of Wild Animals

Posted to Scouter Mom on November 30th, 2010

Here is a worksheet to help Scouts keep track of what they have seen or heard. Patrol Leaders or Troop Guides can give these to Scouts who haven't completed this requirement yet to encourage them to work on... [more]

Baloo's Bugle for December RT, January's Pack Mtg, (Positive Attitude) and Den Mtgs 9 & 10 is on line

Posted to U.S. Scouting Service Project on November 30th, 2010

Baloo's Bugle is On-Line!!! Two editions - One focused on the Core value, Positive Attitude, and on Pinewood Derby Also, lots of hints for you pack One focused on the Den and Den activities for Meetings 9 & 10 ENJOY!!!!!!!!! Copyright - U.S... [more]

Santa is bringing me coal...

Posted to True North Scouting on November 30th, 2010

Wow…I am so bad about getting content out to the blog, I want to even smack myself. But don't worry…I won't smack myself, out of the simple fact that I really don't like pain, nor do I want to hit myself. I have gotten my iTunes feed squared away... [more]

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